Saeima approves Latvia's participation in EU training mission to Mali

In February, the participation of
Latvian soldiers in the EU mission to help train the Malian armed forces was
also approved by the government.

The Defense Ministry will now
request the necessary funds from Cabinet of Ministers' emergency funds.

Defense Minister Artis Pabriks' (Unity) press secretary Inga Saleniece previously told LETA that the ministry would request LVL
90,600 for the mission. It is currently estimated that Latvian officers will
work in Mali until the end of the year.

Defense Minister Artis Pabriks told
LETA that the participation of
Latvian soldiers in the Mali mission will be quite different when compared to
the military operation in Afghanistan, as the soldiers are not expected in
battle operations. Only several officers will be sent to help assist in
training the local armed forces.

LETA
also reported, 78% of economically-active Latvian residents believe that Latvia
should not send troops to Mali, according to a survey carried out by the
market, social and media research company "TNS Latvia" and the LNT
television channel. Only 15% approve of sending Latvian soldiers to Mali.

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